Tag Archives: Graphic

Not only does your neighbor George bear a striking resemblance to his bulldog Barry, but chances are, their resemblance is more than skin deep. Turns out that pet owners may also share their dogs’ personalities, according to new research.

Researchers from Bath Spa University in England surveyed 1,000 dog owners to determine their personality types. Based on their answers, pet owners were categorized into one or more of these five personality types: extroverted, agreeable, conscientious, emotionally stable, and intelligent and creative.

Researchers then drew connections between owners’ personality types and what kind of dog they owned. (Does your dog never listen to you? It’s probably not his personality—it’s how he’s been trained.

Here’s what your dog’s breed may be saying about your personality:

1. Toy dogs(Chihuahuas, Yorkies, Poodles, and Pugs): Though Chihuahua-toting Hollywood starlets may not be the first group you’d think of as being the sharpest crayons in the box, people who own toy dogs are more likely to be intelligent. They also earn high marks for being creative. (Boost your already high brain power with these free brain games that make you smarter.)

3. Gun dogs(Irish Setters, Golden Retrievers, and Spaniels): You and your pooch are happy watching a movie, taking a walk, and really just doing whatever the day dictates—it doesn’t get more agreeable than gun dog owners.

4. Utility dogs(Dalmatians, Bulldogs, and Bishon Frises): The fact that George never fails to scoop up Barry’s poop isn’t a mere coincidence: People with utility dogs come out on top for being conscientious. (Just don’t forget about yourself when you’re always caring for others.

5. Terriers(Jack Russells, Carin Terriers, and Miniature Schnauzers): Now don’t take this the wrong way, but owners of terriers were shown to be—how can we put this delicately—rather low on the emotional stability scale. On the plus side, you’ve got a super-cute companion to help you through any funks.

6. Working dogs (Boxers, Rottweilers, and Great Danes):
Anyone with a Great Dane as a roommate would have to be easygoing and clever to make things work without getting claustrophobic. Not surprisingly, working dog owners are agreeable and intelligent.

7. Hounds(Beagles, Basset Hounds, Greyhounds, and Dachshunds):
Even if you ain’t nothing but a hound dog, good news: Hound dog owners are emotionally stable.

The connection between an owner’s personality and the type of pooch she owns may be due to the simple fact that certain personality types are more attracted to certain breeds, says study author Lance Workman. Regardless, the next time you feel like no one understands you, look no further than your four-legged pal: S/He totally gets you.

One way to practice generosity is to give energy where it is needed whether that is in the form of time, money or love.

The most difficult time to be generous is when we ourselves are feeling poor. While some of us have experienced actually being in the red financially, there are those of us who would feel broke even if we had a million dollars in the bank. Either way, as the old adage goes, it’s always in giving that we receive. Meaning, when we’re living in a state of lack, the very gesture we may least want to give is the very act that could help us create the abundance we seek. One way to practice generosity is to give energy where it’s needed. Giving money to a cause or person in need is one way to give energy. Giving attention, love, or a smile to another person are other acts of giving we can offer. After all, there are people all over the world that are hungry for love.

Sometimes, when we practice generosity, we practice it conditionally. We might be expecting to “receive back” from the person to whom we gave. We might even become angry or resentful if that person doesn’t reciprocate. However, trust in the natural flow of energy & you’ll find yourself practicing generosity with no strings attached. This is the purest form of giving. Remember what you send out will always come back you. Selflessly helping a friend in need without expecting them to return the same favor in the same way & know that you, too, will receive that support from the universe when you need it.

Besides, while giving conditionally creates stress (because we are waiting with an invisible balance sheet to receive our due), giving unconditionally creates & generates abundance. We give freely, because we trust there’s always an unlimited supply.
Being aware of how much we’re always supported by the universe is one of the keys to abundance & generosity. Consciously remember the times you’ve received support from expected & unexpected sources. Remember anyone who has helped you when you’ve needed it most & bless all situations that come into your life for the lessons & gifts they bring you. Remember, all things given and received emanate from generosity. Giving is an act of gratitude. Plant the seeds of generosity through your acts of giving & you’ll grow the fruits of abundance for yourself & those around you.

Defining objectives in our relationships can help us to create more meaningful connections. We may not always feel our relationships need to have an objective past the simple ability to share experiences, but, choosing to give our connections a purpose can enrich them beyond measure. By being clear about what we hope to gain from our relationships, we’ve a stronger awareness of the actions we need to take to meet our needs. Likewise, considering what we can offer the people in our lives can help us to feel more proactive in creating harmonious connections. As a result, our relationships become purposeful vehicles for creating more joy in our lives. With a clear objective in mind, you can attract the types of relationships that enrich your experiences today & every day.

Ever notice of those you know that the person with that innate ability to creatively work items into their home, wardrobe, offie space, &tc., are the very same people who have the knack for throwing cool gatherings with just the right mix of people, food & drinks? It’s true! If you find yourself having difficulty creating joy & harmony in your personal or work relationships, why not try “mixing it up” in your home? Or, try out a fresh & unexpected outfit / accessory combo? Beginning to practice clarity with both your personal relationships, as well as in your personal style will have you in expert territory in no time flat. Pretty soon, you’ll be throwing the killer soires!

Guy de Maupassant certainly has one view of “the bed.” The fact that he died at a young age after ongoing struggles with both physical and mental health kind of makes one think he probably spent a fair amunt of time in bed. Though, in one way, this kind of makes him an expert on the subject.

So, what does your bed really reveal about you? Think nothing? Think again. According to Cosmo:

A style all about physical & emotional comfort shows you’re sentimental and loyal. Items like old quilts say your relationships, especially with friends, are important to you.

Girly & Chic?

A feminine bed suggests you crave feeling pampered & the bold colors say you’re outgoing. The eye-catching details indicate you thrive as the center of attention.

All Jumbled Up?

A rumpled bed indicates you’re a bit disorganized. But your messiness also means you don’t sweat the small details (like matching your sheets) & tend to be spontaneous.

Forget what you’ve heard about the eyes being the window to the soul. The bed you sleep in is the window. Your bed shows your personality, habits, hygiene & most of your irritating little idiosyncrasies. Your bed speaks volumes. Of course, we’re operating on the given that you hopefully have a bed. And, if you’re like us, you probably spend as much of your life as possible in that bed. And, what better way to get to know someone than to study the space they spend their unconscious time in? Whether you smother your bed in nice, fluffy pillows or strip it down to the bare minimals, a lot can be learned about you from your bed.

Recognizing that our past worries only really affect us when we mull over them in the present allows us to cultivate a greater sense of peace & acceptance in our lives. Even though there will always be times when we need to process the pain of the past, it’s much more beneficial for our overall health & wellbeing if we concentrate our efforts on the wonders that exist in our lives right now. For, by doing so, we will understand the past can only really affect us through our thoughts. Remaining in the present will help you to let go of the past by keeping your focus on the marvel of who you are today.

In the meantime, try curling up in your favorite chair, hammock, or zen space and take some time to remember how far you’ve come. After all, recognizing & counting our blessings helps to usher new ones in. Admittedly, Thoreau was dead on with this line. When you look in the mirror – no matter how fabulous it may be – what do you really see reflecteed back?

No manner of lovely possessions can fill any gaping void. Though, admittedly, rocking in this beautiful ChicIca leather based with polished stainless steel framed contemporary rocking chair re·splend·ent with a hand-crafted curved plywood back construction would surely help ease your woes, if only for a few moments. With a US$3500 pricetag, you might want to ease into and out of this with great care. If you haven’t quite “gotten there,” remember, there’s a reason a home isn’t built in a day. Slow and steady win the race.

Well, at least if you want to be paid. In the meantime, for those in design professions, we can all commiserate about the plain old stupidity of some clients. Thankfully, there’s a website that allows us to do just that. The following pearls of wisdom appear courtesy of Clients From Hell:

“The artwork is approved, but we need to replace the skeleton, we think it might be homosexual, and that could ostracize the audience, it’s a very masculine industry.”

“Make it more good.”

I had a client that requested we meet in his kitchen. Halfway through our meeting, he excused himself to go to the bathroom but left the door open so we could continue to talk. I charged extra for that meeting.

“My wife really hates blue. So does my secretary.”

“When I get a business card this size (not 3.5 x 2 inches), I think that that person is a fag.”

“Can you make the circles a little bit rounder?”

“It seems to be taking a long time. Would it be quicker if I came down and sat with you guys through it all?”

“You’re gonna charge $400 for that? Aren’t you from India? What’re you going to do with $400?!”

“Can you bill your design time in 6 minute increments”

“I’m pretty broke right now.”

For loads more frustrating fun, make sure you check out Clients From Hell (and submit your own horror stories!). Do you have your own frustrating design horror stories?

So often we’re sabotaging ourselves by being in our own way without even knowing we’re doing so.

When you find yourself facing obstacles that appear to be blocking you from your goals, it’s important to try not to get discouraged. It can be easy to feel “stuck” or that “life” is creating circumstances preventing you from getting what you want. And, while it’s easy to look at everyone & everything outside of ourselves for the problem, perhaps even wanting to “get rid” of the person, object, or circumstance we may feel is blocking us, sometimes the best course of action to take may be to look inside ourselves first.

It is amazing how often we can get in our own way without even being aware we’re doing so. Even though we truly want to succeed, there are many reasons why we may sometimes block our own efforts. It may be that we’re afraid to succeed, so we subconsciously create circumstances to keep ourselves stuck. Or it may even be that we are afraid that we will succeed, so we block ourselves by making the achievement of our goals more difficult than they really are. We may even approach our goals in a way that keeps creating the same unsuccessful results.

If you think you’ve been standing in your own way, you may want to take a piece of paper & record how you’ve done this. Write down the choices you’ve made that have hindered your efforts and the fears that may have prompted you to make these decisions. Take note of any thoughts & feelings that arise. It’s important to be gentle & compassionate during this process. And, do yourself a favor and try not to blame yourself for getting in your own way.

Remember, the choices we make are always there to serve us, until it’s time to let them go. When you’re finished, throw the paper away while setting an intention that you’re getting rid of any obstacles you’ve created to block yourself. You can then let yourself start again with a clean slate. Doubts & fears are going to be natural, but with this new awareness, you should be able to prevent yourself from subconsciously thwarting yourself. Besides, now that you’ve decided to get out of your own way, the part of you that has always wanted to succeed can now do so.

You’d be surprised how this little exercise will help to cleanse your pallet & give you the opportunity to start anew. Righting this self-destructive behavior can cost a lot of money if it’s done by way of the therapy route. However, an alternative could be to begin a D.I.Y. home project. As you begin to grow from this experience, you’ll get a double-treat: watching the projects you tackle literally visually transform along with you! It’s a win-win scenario. And, whatever you do, please don’t even think about eating any pet you’ve named – that’s just bad form. Enjoy your long weekend.